Researchers in Finland found that children are healthier when they play in forested areas compared to pavement, tile, and gravel. Ten urban daycare centers’ playgrounds were transformed into forest-like environments for 28 days.
Then, the immune systems of the children were compared to those of urban children in traditional play areas. The children in the forested playgrounds had more diverse skin microbiomes and healthier immune systems.
The children did not play in a real forest.
The researchers created forest-like environments by adding plant life to the playgrounds. They primarily added vegetation that would be found in a natural forest floor. Plants such as dwarf heather, blueberries, crowberry, mosses, and sod.
The plants were placed in planting boxes, which the children were encouraged to care for. On average, the children spent 1.5 hours outside a day.
This simple change had dramatic effects.
After just a few weeks, the children developed skin microbiome diversity similar to children in daycares that are nature-oriented.
Their immune system also had a higher ratio of markers that indicated they had strong immune systems. The changes were so clear that even the researchers were surprised.
Microbiome diversity and the immune system are linked.
Previous research has suggested that people who have more diverse microbiomes have better immune systems. However, it is not known whether the link is causal.
Although this study still does not answer this question, it does demonstrate that interventions can increase microbiome diversity and boost the immune system.
The study suggests urban environments can be better designed.
Aki Sinkkonen, the researcher who led the study , said:
“This recently published study of daycare children is the first in which these changes offering protection against diseases have been found when adding diversified aspects of nature to an urban environment.”
Better health may mean better designed urban environments.
This study provides a blueprint for how to improve parks and public spaces. Heikki Hyöty, a researcher on the team, said:
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“This recently published study of daycare children is the first in which these changes offering protection against diseases have been found when adding diversified aspects of nature to an urban environment […] The results of this study are encouraging when looking for new opportunities for the prevention of immune system disorders.”